Division of Online Learning

Learn to:

Identify the basic workings of copyright law, including originality, infringement, and ownership

Assess whether a particular use of a copyrighted work would constitute fair use

Recognize how new technologies that permit copying may provide the basis for copyright infringement

This course introduces students to the basic concepts and doctrines of copyright law, including originality, ownership, and copyright infringement. Class activities allow for analysis of issues raised for copyright law by specialized work such as software, architecture and databases, as well as new technologies that facilitate copying. Upon completion of this course, students will understand the foundational principles of copyright law and the doctrine of fair use, and be able to apply this knowledge to assess ongoing controversies affecting the development of copyright and information gathering and dissemination.